Correlation Properties of Random Electromagnetic Beams in Laser Resonators

Abstract

With the help of the generalized Huygens-Fresnel principle and the tensor approach for electromagnetic stochastic beams we investigate the behavior of their two-point spatial correlation properties on interaction with a laser resonator. In particular, the evolution of the degree of coherence, of the degree of cross-polarization and of the intensity correlations (at one and two points in space) is analyzed for typical beams and cavities. The theory is illustrated by numerical curves pertaining to various correlation properties of typical electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams.